First wedding amateur photographer (Page 6): Thanks for the info. So I want to make sure I understand this, as long as I keep my shutter at 1/200th and my ISO at 100 even outdoors I...

florida tl Loc: Largo, FL

Weddingguy wrote:

You are still not getting tack sharp images, and I suspect that the problem is still the slow shutter speed. I really would not consider shooting at below 1/200th of a second unless on a tripod. Even the best of us can rarely hand hold a camera without camera movement at 1/30th of a second.

Thanks for the info. So I want to make sure I understand this, as long as I keep my shutter at 1/200th and my ISO at 100 even outdoors I should not be overexposed and my photos will not look all blown out? I just want to make sure I'm doing this right. Thanks for the compliment on the last photo.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

florida tl wrote:

Thanks for the info. So I want to make sure I understand this, as long as I keep my shutter at 1/200th and my ISO at 100 even outdoors I should not be overexposed and my photos will not look all blown out? I just want to make sure I'm doing this right. Thanks for the compliment on the last photo.

That's right . . but 100 ISO for bright days and 400 ISO for dull days and indoors.

florida tl Loc: Largo, FL

Weddingguy wrote:

That's right . . but 100 ISO for bright days and 400 ISO for dull days and indoors.

I think I deal with that. As of right now, what I do know is wedding and reception are in the park, there will be a pavilion where the dance and cake and stuff will be set up. I have cards, batteries, and a lot of practice shots coming up Friday night during the rehearsal. just not sure if when I'm in the pavilion what I should use might be a tad bit dark if its cloudy. calling for rain :( I don'[t want the pictures to be washed out with the flash.

I really really do so much appreciate you taking your time to respond to my messages and my post.

I think I just except myself to be as perfect as possible.

Thanks Teresa

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

[quote=florida tl]I think I deal with that. As of right now, what I do know is wedding and reception are in the park, there will be a pavilion where the dance and cake and stuff will be set up. I have cards, batteries, and a lot of practice shots coming up Friday night during the rehearsal. just not sure if when I'm in the pavilion what I should use might be a tad bit dark if its cloudy. calling for rain :( I don'[t want the pictures to be washed out with the flash.

I really really do so much appreciate you taking your time to respond to my messages and my post.

I think I just except myself to be as perfect as possible.

Thanks Teresa[/quote]

Remember he said use the TV mode outdoors, the camera will pick the aperture to stop down the light :wink:

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

[quote=florida tl]I think I deal with that. As of right now, what I do know is wedding and reception are in the park, there will be a pavilion where the dance and cake and stuff will be set up. I have cards, batteries, and a lot of practice shots coming up Friday night during the rehearsal. just not sure if when I'm in the pavilion what I should use might be a tad bit dark if its cloudy. calling for rain :( I don'[t want the pictures to be washed out with the flash.

I really really do so much appreciate you taking your time to respond to my messages and my post.

I think I just except myself to be as perfect as possible.

Thanks Teresa[/quote]

As I said above . . . follow those simple steps . . . don't try to follow all the suggestions here as even all the good advice would be over kill . . . keep it simple and you'll do fine. Here's a re-run of the most important points:

5) Camera settings . . . only two to remember . . 90% consistently perfect exposure. If you wonder why you need to use any of these settings, please ask. I don't want to make this a book. )

Indoors . . . camera set on manual . . . ISO 400 . . . Shutter speed 1/200th sec . . . aperture F/4.5. (**** If your lens will not stay on F/4.5 throughout it's zoom range, limit the range of the zoom that you use or rent a constant F/stop lens)
For real close ups or long shots change your FEC (flash exposure compensation) accordingly.

Outdoors . . . Camera set on TV . . . Bright day (sun, hazy sun, beach, etc.) ISO 100 . . . dull day or dusk ISO 400 . . . shutter speed 1/200th sec. . . . flash on TTL with FEC set at -1/2.
For real close ups or long shots change your FEC accordingly.

Do not use "AV" or "P" or "A" settings on the camera when using flash. The flash will limit the shutter speed to the sync speed when outdoors and will cause massive overexposure. Indoors it will slow the shutter to a slow speed that will cause camera and subject movement blur enough to ruin many images. High speed sync is OK to use outdoors, but not for an entire wedding as it will overheat the flash, use too much battery power, and limit the total power of the flash.

If you adjust the FEC correctly you will never blow out dresses or faces . . . the flash is automatic.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Thought it would be interesting to shoot some stills today based on weddingGuy's suggestions.

I tossed out about 80% that just weren't up to par which is about what we were told to expect.

Shoot on-camera flash with no diffuser so it could get 'hot' if I wasn't careful and turned down the FEC.

I shot 3 passes like when a bride would walk down the isle, full body, 3/4 and chest up, all 3 were in slightly different light/shade situations. I changed the ISO between 100-400 depending if it was direct sun or if we were in cloud/shade.

The range was 100 feet down to about 15 feet as she walked towards me.

You can download the pictures to see the settings, stayed pretty close to the recommendations.

Other than a bit of cropping and a tweak here and there I didn't do much in the way of PP.

FYI, I'm no professional, just a guy with a camera that knows enough to make things look OK.

I wasn't concerned with the composition or fixing tone flaws or facial flaws, it was all about using what was suggested so the OP would have a reference point ..... having confidence in your setup goes a long way, thus you aren't stressed and can just shoot away. :wink:

(Download)

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

Beercat wrote:

Thought it would be interesting to shoot some stil... (show quote)

Good job ! Looks like the suggested settings worked pretty good.
With prActice less test shots are necessary.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Weddingguy wrote:

Good job ! Looks like the suggested settings worked pretty good.
With prActice less test shots are necessary.

Dang! Typo!

I tossed out 20% and kept 80% :wink:

Worked very well :thumbup:

florida tl Loc: Largo, FL

I like the idea of what you did, unfortunately I have no way to practice until Friday night. But I like the shots, great job. I'm feeling more comfy with the whole process.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

florida tl wrote:

I like the idea of what you did, unfortunately I have no way to practice until Friday night. But I like the shots, great job. I'm feeling more comfy with the whole process.

You are several hours ahead Of me here so if you like you can post some of your shots from friday and I will make some suggestions for Saturday's shoot if need be. You're going to do just fine. Just remember to KISS

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

florida tl wrote:

I like the idea of what you did, unfortunately I have no way to practice until Friday night. But I like the shots, great job. I'm feeling more comfy with the whole process.

I thought you would feel better knowing the setup as given worked very well. Having confidence in the camera setup will make it more fun for you.

Have a good time 8-)

florida tl Loc: Largo, FL

Weddingguy wrote:

You are several hours ahead Of me here so if you like you can post some of your shots from friday and I will make some suggestions for Saturday's shoot if need be. You're going to do just fine. Just remember to KISS

I will upload after I get home. Nice thing is the wedding is Sunday so I have a whole day once you review the pictures.
Thanks

OonlyBonly

GoofyNewfie wrote:

:thumbup: :thumbup:
florida tl: Even though you say you don't know how or want to do post processing, our friend "Murphy" has been known to crash important events, especially weddings. Shooting raw format (in addition to jpeg) allows more leeway to adjust that once in a lifetime shot which somehow got messed up. If you get into a bind with a few images, I'm sure there are members on the 'hog who would help you out if you had a raw file or two to send (I would).

Great advice!
Plus with the RAW file if later on you do decide to do some PPing for them you have a better file from which to do it.

florida tl Loc: Largo, FL

I don't know where or anything, I posted pictures and they got moved. So here is the link for them. These are from Friday Night Rehearsal. As stated in my post, rushing due to pending, bad storms.

Your topic "First Wedding Amature Photography (follow up) Photos" was moved to "Photo Gallery" section.
You can find it here:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-215001-1.html

wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota

Beercat

Nice job, did you have the camera (Canon) auto focus set on "one shot" or "all servo" ?

Topaz Clear does a fairly good job of smoothing out the complexion.